Tēnā koe. Nau mai ki Second Life® Blog

Greetings and welcome to my Second Life® Blog

A Kiwi from Aotearoa, New Zealand I’ve been playing SL just over a year now and I have to say that initially I had no real understanding of what exactly I was getting myself into when I initially signed up. What started out as a bit of curiosity has become an important part of my life much to my own surprise and certain incredulity. Yasmine Meads, my primary avatar has become an extension of my real life self and offered me the opportunity to explore not only the virtual realm of SL but also my own inner psyche.

I divide the majority of my time in SL between messing about with friends, playing the HUD Game of Tiny Empires (TE), throwing party’s and my latest passion photography.

Alongside Angel Cordoso I worked to build the Kingdom of Amber which is now one of the top ten kingdoms in the Empire something I’m really proud of especially since we only ascended in late July of this year. None of this would have been possible of course without the loyalty and support of the most amazing people I’ve met in SL who make up the Royalty of Amber. Special mention being due to BunnyFoofoo Dagger, Meez (Amelia Tarchon), Bunny Donnelly, Stan Eractor Suzanne Oppewall and our friend & constant ally Tia Antwerp

A Graphic Designer in RL I initially steered clear of anything design related in my “off time” in SL… However since I started taking photographs seriously in-world; everything has changed and I’ve discovered my new passion. Thanks in no small part to the inspiring SL flickr community.

My Flicker Group “CAPTURED in SL” has been growing steadily and as it gets bigger and more amazing pictures are added by other SL Flicker members I’ve had to try and become more and more selective to ensure the truly captivating ones aren’t lost in the many beautiful pictures in the group. With over 1000 items in the pool now (despite my best efforts to trim it down regularly) I felt it was time I went through and pulled some of my absolute favorites out for special feature.

Rather than selecting the following images just for artistic merit or clever image manipulation I’ve tried to select on the basis that each image is to be a window into SL. Somehow illustrating the diversity and incredibly rich experience that this virtual world can come to have for it’s members as both an artistic form of expression and as an emotional outlet for that expression a conduit into another realms and inside of ourselves. Afterall SL is one giant mirror as are the images we create from our time spent gazing into it.

Band Camp? by Steve Hansen, on Flickr

Mary by *~Kiya~*, on Flickr

The Release by Distressed Jewell, on Flickr

and here i am .. tonight ... by lumir_etincelle, on Flickr

Marjorie and me... Partners for life by DEVAUGHN, on Flickr

time. by .jordan., on Flickr

Somewhere in my dreams... : ) by Lano Ling, on Flickr

Second Life: Where shoes can become hats by Torley, on Flickr

smoke and mirrors by Katiya Rhode, on Flickr

2000 visits: Dancing a few years later... by Ludmilla Writer, on Flickr